COL BKB: Connecticut 89, LaSalle 81

STORRS, Conn., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Kemba Walker scored a career-high 23 points Friday when second-ranked Connecticut recorded an 89-81 victory against LaSalle.

UConn found its unranked opponent to be feisty and held a slim 46-40 lead at the break. Its biggest lead was 84-75 with just 40 seconds remaining.

Jeff Adrien scored 22 with 12 rebounds. Jerome Dyson scored 17 with three assists, and A.J. Price added 12 points, four assists and three rebounds for the Huskies (3-0), who had encountered little resistance in wins by 99-56 against Hartford and 82-63 over Western Carolina.

LaSalle was led by Rodney Green's game-high 25 points. Yves Mekongo Mbala and Ruben Guillandeaux scored 13 points apiece, and Mbala added four rebounds and five assists for the Explorers (1-2), who had never played UConn on the hardwood before Friday's contest.